Ultrahigh breakdown current density of van der Waals one dimensional PdBr2

Abstract

One-dimensional (1D) van der Waals (vdW) materials offer nearly defect-free strands as channel materials in the field-effect transistor devices and probably, a better interconnect than conventional copper with higher current density and resistance to electro-migration with sustainable down-scaling. We report a theoretically predicted halide based 1D few-chain atomic thread, PdBr2, isolable from its bulk which crystallizes in a monoclinic space group C2/c. Liquid phase exfoliated nanowires with mean length (20 ± 1)μm transferred onto a SiO2/Si wafer with a maximum aspect ratio (length:width) of ≈5000 confirm the lower cleavage energy perpendicular to the chain direction. Moreover, an isolated nanowire can also sustain a current density of 200 MA/cm2, which is atleast one-order higher than typical copper interconnects. However, local transport measurement via the conducting atomic force microscopy (CAFM) tip along the cross direction of the single chain records a much lower current density due to the anisotropic electronic band structure. While 1D nature of the nanoobject can be linked with a non-trivial collective quantum behavior, vdW nature could be beneficial for possible pathways in an interconnect fabrication strategy with better control of placement in an integrated circuit.